Liz Allen: Wise young readers enlighten me

Jean Bikorimana, 10, zoomed through "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon," a Newberry Honor Book by Grace Lin. I'm on Chapter 3 of the novel, which all Erie School District fifth-graders are reading.

The school district loaned me the book after I read aloud to Jean and his Edison Elementary School classmates on March 1 for Dr. Seuss Day.

I knew my visit to Edison, 1921 East Lake Road, would be special when Michael Harper, 11, walked me to Pat Sherbin's classroom.

"I just love to read," said Michael, whose current favorite writer is Suzanne Collins, author of "The Hunger Games" series.

I asked the students if they had any questions for Gov. Tom Corbett when the Times-News Editorial Board met with him later that day.

"What's the pathway to become president?" Mark, Michael's fraternal twin, asked. Listing George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, Corbett said that serving as a governor is a good route.

Mark, Michael and Jean are brainy and wise. They encourage each other to achieve, and they boast about the rest of their classmates, too. Jean reads at a 10.5 grade level, said the twins (Mark is at 8.5 and Michael at 8.3).

Mark and Michael credit their Jefferson Elementary kindergarten teachers for instilling the love of reading. "My teacher pulled out this really cool book of a guy skateboarding. I realized I wanted to start reading," said Mark. Michael wanted to dive into chapter books after his teacher read "The Magic Treehouse" to the class.

A book "can take you places like nothing else can. It increases your vocabulary. It's like a class, but you're doing it yourself," Michael said. "Get into reading as soon as possible and stay into it, because you need it for everyday life," Mark said.

Jean, who wants to be an engineer like his dad, didn't speak any English when he came to Erie from Tanzania at age 5. In kindergarten, he was sent to the nurse five times because, he said, "I didn't know what they were saying and I got a headache."

Students accumulate points for every book they read. Michael has 35.6; Mark has 58. Jean has 583.7.

"Jean's a dream student," said Sherbin. "In my 33 years, he's the most outstanding reader of my lifetime. I am honored to have him."

For boys who don't like to read, try comic books, or start with an easy book and work your way up, the boys advised. "If you don't like to read, write your own book," said Jean. For book ideas, visit www.ARbookfind.com, a site for accelerated readers, they recommended.

The boys already have summer reading plans. Mark's choice? "Fire-Breathing Liberal: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress."